Walter Dick
Encyclopedia
Walter Dick was a U.S. soccer forward
who was a member of the U.S. national team
at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
. He is a member of the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
in the Scottish Football League
. In 1923, at the age of seventeen, he moved to the United States, settling in Niagara Falls, New York
. When he arrived, he immediately began playing with the Niagara Falls Rangers
. The manager of Providence F.C. of the American Soccer League
spotted Dick playing for Rangers and offered him a contract. Dick went on to play six seasons with Providence between 1924 and 1930. However, in 1928, the team changed its name to the Providence Gold Bugs
. By 1930, the ravages of the Great Depression
and the "Soccer Wars" had begun to take their toll on the ASL and teams began to fold, move and merge. In 1930, a group of businessmen led by Harold Brittan bought the team, and moved the team to Fall River, Massachusetts
where it spent most of the 1930-1931 ASL season as Fall River F.C.
. When Fall River merged with the New Bedford Whalers
during the spring of 1931, Dick moved to the Pawtucket Rangers
. The Rangers left the ASL in the fall of 1932 as the league began to collapse, but joined the newly formed second American Soccer League in the fall of 1933. In 1934 and 1935, the Rangers went to the National Challenge Cup, only to fall to Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
in 1934 and the same team, only renamed St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. in 1935.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usacuphist.html In 1937, he joined the Kearny Scots-Americans and remained with the team through the 1941 season. During that span, Kearny won five league championships.
at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
. In that game, the U.S. lost to Italy
in the first round of the cup.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html
Dick was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1985http://neshof.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/inductees.htm and the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1989.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who was a member of the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
. He is a member of the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Professional career
Dick began his professional career with Armadale F.C.Armadale F.C.
Armadale F.C. was a Scottish football club based at Volunteer Park in Armadale, West Lothian. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1932.-History:...
in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. In 1923, at the age of seventeen, he moved to the United States, settling in Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. When he arrived, he immediately began playing with the Niagara Falls Rangers
Niagara Falls Rangers
The Niagara Falls Rangers were an amateur U.S. soccer team based out of Niagara Falls, New York. They competed in the Independent Foot Ball League where they finished second in 1912 to city rivals the Wanderers. In 1914, they went to the semifinals of the National Challenge Cup. In 1922, National...
. The manager of Providence F.C. of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
spotted Dick playing for Rangers and offered him a contract. Dick went on to play six seasons with Providence between 1924 and 1930. However, in 1928, the team changed its name to the Providence Gold Bugs
Providence Gold Bugs
The Providence Clamdiggers was a member of the American Soccer League. They were renamed the Providence Gold Bugs before the spring half of the 1928/29 season...
. By 1930, the ravages of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the "Soccer Wars" had begun to take their toll on the ASL and teams began to fold, move and merge. In 1930, a group of businessmen led by Harold Brittan bought the team, and moved the team to Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
where it spent most of the 1930-1931 ASL season as Fall River F.C.
Fall River F.C.
Fall River Football Club, also referred to as Fall River Field Club, was the name used by two United States soccer clubs, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both played in the American Soccer League during the early 1930s. The name is often used incorrectly to refer to Fall River Marksmen, another...
. When Fall River merged with the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
during the spring of 1931, Dick moved to the Pawtucket Rangers
Pawtucket Rangers
J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...
. The Rangers left the ASL in the fall of 1932 as the league began to collapse, but joined the newly formed second American Soccer League in the fall of 1933. In 1934 and 1935, the Rangers went to the National Challenge Cup, only to fall to Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. was a U.S. soccer club which played in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1931 to 1934. The team was known as Hellrungs from 1929 to 1931, St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. from 1934 to 1935 and St. Louis Shamrocks from 1935 to 1938. During its short existence, it won two...
in 1934 and the same team, only renamed St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. in 1935.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usacuphist.html In 1937, he joined the Kearny Scots-Americans and remained with the team through the 1941 season. During that span, Kearny won five league championships.
National team
In 1934, Dick earned one cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
. In that game, the U.S. lost to Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the first round of the cup.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html
Dick was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1985http://neshof.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/inductees.htm and the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1989.